Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-11-22

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pssss In Dtssrsse
Many were the sights I witnessed in
and out Of the palace Of Mandalay, but
nothing struck my attention % much -
she number Of trained elephants, lately
belonging to the dspossd monarch, and
The splendid quarters in which they were
yocatsd, and my surprise was still more
Increased when I wa introduced 70 and
entered into conversation with the gen.
Nsman who presided over this extensive
establishment. He turned out 10 bs Q
real native Of the Isle Of Wight. The
white or mouse oclored elephant was
there of course, but show are the mighty
fallen" He was no longer in Q magnif-
cent pavilion, alone in his grandeur, sur
rounded by many servitors Of the king;
on the contrary, he wa in . stall like the
rest Of the beasts, and, II anything, less
noticed than many Of his finer brethren.
One more anecdote about this wonder
full beast, and l have done with elephants.
Dhortly before our arrival one OF these
animals had greatly disgraced himself BY
refusing to carry . certain weighs OF
goods which had been piled on his back.
There is the regulation weight, and the
beasts know TO an what they ought
to carry, and il any one Of the mahouts
attempt to put a surplus amount on his
or their backs it is Immediately shot onto
the ground. The animal in question had
been duly laden with . weight which was
under the regulation scale; but although
it had been tw ice weighed, a. Mrs. Camp
would say, before his own eyes. he still
refused 10 carry II. This wa too much
for even his indulsent driver, 20 no &C
cordingly reported, and just - We arrived
he was about TO be tried for his sxtraor-
binary and obstinate conduct.
Several elephants were led out into Q
large courtyard, forming . kind Of circle
round the delinquent, who seemed al
ready to feel his position aeutsly, for he
glanced a~nIiously from time 70 time Al
his mahout, who Wa viaibly affected and
who stood at his head. A karen presided
over the court martial and read aloud the
indictment against the offender, the ole
plants which constituted the jury sp-
parently listening with great attention.
After the statement was finished and the
mahout examined. who, BY the way,
gave his evidence with great reluctance,
the karen decided that the case had been
distinctly proved and the culprit was ad-
Judged the punishment Of twenty strokes.
Upon the announcement OF the verdict
the jury marched in q most solemn man.
ner to q distant part Of the yard and re-
turned with q switch about as large - .
fair sized scaffold pole. In the mean
time the mahout had been addressing the
offender, who wa now weeping copious-
ly, large drops Of tears falling from his
eyes, and occasionally q shrill and Pc
culiar sound Issued from his capecious
throat.
The executioners Of the law were at
hand and stood about twelve to fourteen
feet apart, each balancing with peculiar
nicely in his trunk the Aforesaid switch.
The culprit was led up to the place. and
a he passed number nj there VA .
sound heard which ressmbled somewhat
Q sharp clap Of thunder; II va the frat
blow delivered BY the dread myrmidons
of the law. The blow WAS followed BY
sharp, shrill scream, although there was
evidently m attempt On the part Of the
culprit to suppress any exhibition Of pain.
This punishment continued Until the
whole Of the sentence had been carried
out. Although I felt considerable SYM
patty with the unfortunate delinquent, /
was at the same time intensely amused
with the thorough business like air with
which these ministers Of justice carried
out the sentence. There were no light
blows delivered; bat, n matter Of fact,
each elephant determined 10 administer .
heavier amount Of punishment than his
neighbor, and the sly twinkle in the eye
a. the blow wa delivered wss . sight 10
see.-Primross Magazine.